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Fatal system error. Locked out of computer

kuma781

Posted 02 September 2010 - 06:22 PM

kuma781

Member

Member

74 posts

Hello,

I recently got a virus on my computer. I was doing some virus scans in safe mode but think I may have damaged a necessary file for Windows to start. I wanted to try using the recovery console but I am concerned I will erase valuable information. Can you recommend what I should do?

Attached is a screen-shot of the blue screen error message if that helps.

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kuma781

Posted 15 September 2010 - 10:55 AM

rshaffer61

Posted 15 September 2010 - 11:02 AM

rshaffer61

Moderator

Moderator

34,114 posts

If you have your Windows XP disk

Insert your Windows XP disk into your computer and reboot

Make sure the PC is set to run from the CD as the primary boot device.NOTE: You do this by setting your PC to boot to the CD-ROM in BIOS (enter bios by pressing f1, f2 or del key during memory count up, then search for boot order, and set the CD as the first boot device)

When the PC boots, it will boot from the CD...after the first several screens load, you will be given a choice to choose R for Recovery Console. You will be asked to log in to the operating system to be repaired type the number corresponding to that operating system (usually 1).NOTE: For Windows XP Home, there is not password, just hit ENTER. For Windows XP pro, ask whomever set up the machine what password they used.

When you see the Recovery console C:\WINDOWS prompt continue to Section 3 ("System Restore")

Start MagicISO. You should see a window informing you about the full version of MagicISO.In the bottom right select Try It! and the program will open.

Next, we'll need to burn the newly created image to a disk that we can use to fix the problem.

Put a blank CD-R disk in your CD burner and close the tray. If an AutoPlay window opens, close it.

Click on Tools and select Burn CD/DVD with ISO.... A window will appear.

Click on the little folder to the right of CD/DVD Image File then navigate to the newly created XPRC.ISO Image file and click Open.

In the CD/DVD Writing Speed drop-down menu choose the 8X setting.

Under Format make sure that Mode 1 is selected.

And finally, click on the Burn it! button to burn XPRC.ISO to disk.

Once the disk is burned, put it in the machine you want to fix and restart it.Boot to the CD just as you would with a Windows XP disk.At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to enter the Recovery Console.Choose the installation to be repaired by number (usually 1) and press Enter.When you are asked for the Administrator password, enter the password or leave it blank (default) and press Enter.

Section 3: System Restore

When you get to the recovery console prompt, type

CD \

Press Enter

Type

cd system~1\_resto~1

Press Enter

Type

dir

Press Enter

After you press enter you will see a list of folders (like rp1, rp2) If the list of restore points has more than one page then press the Enter key untill you reach the end of the list

Type

cd rp {number of the second to last folder in the list}

Note: Example: cd rp9, if rp9 is the second to the last restore point where the last restore point no. is 10

Press Enter

Type

cd snapshot

Press Enter

Type

copy _registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system

Press Enter

Type

copy _registry_machine_software c:\windows\system32\config\software

Press Enter

Type

Exit

Press Enter

Your PC will reboot.

If you get an access denied error when doing the above, then do the following at the recovery console:

Type

CD \

Press Enter

Type

cd windows\system32\config

Press Enter

Type

ren system system.bak

Press Enter

Type

Exit

Press Enter

Your PC will reboot, go back into the Recovery Console and start from the beginning

If you still cannot get access in anyway to your installation in the recovery console then your SAM database files are corrupt. There is no way you can restore these with the recovery console. You may need to do a fresh install

kuma781

Posted 20 September 2010 - 02:49 AM

kuma781

Member

Topic Starter

Member

74 posts

Thank you for your reply!

I did what I was told but i think it asked me if I wanted to fix all or some of the operating system after i typed "copy _registry_machine_software c:\windows\system32\config\software" I pressed enter as instructed. Nothing happened. I tried to re-do the instructions and it gave me an access denied response, So I followed with the "ren system system.bak" instructions. It said" A directory or file named sytem.bak already exist". Can you tell me how to proceed?

rshaffer61

Posted 20 September 2010 - 06:10 AM

· At the first post screen start tapping the Del key to enter System Bios· Find the Advance Options or Boot Sequence screen. · You will need to change the boot sequence so that the CDrom is first and the HD is second.· Press F10 to Save and Exit and then press Enter to accept.· The system will now reboot· When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message is displayed on your screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.· When you see the following message displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER· To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.· At this point an option to press R to enter the Recovery Console is displayed. DO NOT SELECT THIS OPTION.

· On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.· Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected and highlighted in the box, and then press the R key to repair Windows XP.· Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Setup.

You can also go HERE to read a step by step tutorial with screenshots.

kuma781

Posted 28 September 2010 - 09:30 PM

kuma781

Member

Topic Starter

Member

74 posts

Thank you for all your help. I was able to re-install windows xp. Only problem is that I used the xp disk from my desktop. It will not let me activate it. Should I buy a new OS? I bought the display modle for my laptop and it never came with the disk. My options seem to be buying windows 7? Perplexed. Thank you again for your help!

rosiesdad

Posted 29 September 2010 - 05:13 AM

rosiesdad

Member

Member

64 posts

What brand of computer is it?
There could be a partition on your C drive with a restore feature.
OR you may be able to contact (Dell or whoever) and obtain a XP cd at a nominal cost.
OR as you stated, upgrade to Win 7.

rshaffer61

Posted 29 September 2010 - 07:43 AM

If the desktop isa branded system then it would have loaded drivers for that system and not your laptop.

It will not let me activate it. Should I buy a new OS? I bought the display model for my laptop and it never came with the disk.

Yep this is normal and if the desktop and laptop are not using the same XP version this would have happened.

If you give us the make and model of laptop we can try accessing the recovery partition as rpsiedad stated above.

My options seem to be buying windows 7?

I would not recommend that until you can run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor and that can't be done until system is up and running. This will let you know if any issues with software or hardware will exist by upgrading to Win 7.